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Burgundy Farm Country Day School
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December 14, 2012
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Quick Calendar
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December 14
Pizza Day
Community Advisory Group Meeting
Middle School Dance
December 20
Festival of Lights
12:45 p.m. Dismissal
No Afternoon Bus Service
No Afternoon Extended Day
December 21
Winter Break Begins
Faculty In-Service Day
Extended Day Open
January 7
Classes Resume
Click here for a full calendar.
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 Greetings! I am delighted to invite you to Burgundy's annual Festival of Lights next Thursday. Through this school-wide ceremony, our students celebrate holiday traditions and customs from around the world. The program includes traditional holiday songs from different cultures, as well as a sampling of international winter celebrations that are filled with light. The Festival of Lights for decades has offered a enjoyable, inclusive program through which our community can explore and celebrate other cultures. Each class is responsible for a particular piece of the program, and with each passing year, these roles not only become part of a shared experience for our community but also rites of passage for our students, from JK Chicks to soon-to-be-graduating eighth-graders. This event remains largely unchanged over the years, but each class brings something special to its role. The one-hour program showcases our appreciation for the diverse cultures in our community and around the world, and it is a magical way to celebrate our global citizenship. I look forward to seeing you there!
Jeff Sindler
Head of School
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Reminders
Festival of Lights: Thursday, December 20
On Thursday, December 20, we will celebrate different holiday traditions and customs from around the world with student performances in the Festival of Lights. The program will begin at 10:00 a.m. It is a wonderful way for the Burgundy community to gather together before the winter break.
Dismissal for the day is at 12:45 p.m. Many classes will have holiday parties after the program. Please check with teachers for those details. Please remember there is no Extended Day or bus service that afternoon. There will be morning Extended Day.
We remind you that if you choose to park on neighborhood streets, you may only park next to a white curb (if you don't see a curb, you're in a no-parking zone). Do not turn around in or block anyone's driveway. You may be ticketed or towed.
Text Message Alerts
As we transition into winter months, remember that Burgundy offers the option to receive timely alerts, such as school closures, carpool changes (in severe weather), and emergency notices via text message. To subscribe to this service, text "ready" to 80464. Contact Erin Futrowsky (erinf@burgundyfarm.org or 703.842.0474) with any questions.
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 Annual Giving During the holiday season, we are often warmed by memories of family, friends and traditions. It is a season of joy and generosity as we show our appreciation for one another through thoughtful gifts and actions.
We hope you will consider extending that generosity toward your Burgundy family with a gift to our Annual Giving fund. One easy way to make a generous gift is to take advantage of our recurring gift program.
"By making a contribution each month, it's something I can build into my budget," says parent Jill Reuter. "I want to give back, and setting up an auto debit on my credit card works out really well. We don't even have to think about it!"
We hope you will help us reach our goal of raising $250,000 for program and instruction, financial aid, and professional development by contributing to Annual Giving today. To set up monthly contributions, choose "Recurring Gift" under "Gift Type" on this web page. You can also call Michele McCabe at 703.842.0470. |
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 Student Spotlights
Holiday Baskets for Koinonia Foundation
This year Burgundy put together and donated to the Koinonia Foundation 18 baskets, each containing the makings of a festive holiday dinner for a family of four who would otherwise have difficulty putting a holiday meal on the table. Each Middle School advisory group and Lower School classroom collected at least one basket full of dinner items. Parents Cynthia Collins and Chris Crane wrapped the baskets with festive red tablecloths and ribbon to make them look like wonderful gifts. Also decorating the baskets were homemade cookies (baked by parents Amy Heist and Neone Smith), hand-decorated by Middle School Students. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this effort!
Student Recital Recap On Thursday, December 6, Burgundy students showcased their diverse talents at the student recital. Thirty students entertained their families and friends with performances ranging from Led Zeppelin to Bach. Most performers chose to play instruments, including clarinet, flute, guitar (acoustic and electric), piano, saxophone and violin. There were also singing performances and one poem recitation. Congratulations to all of our student performers, and many thanks to all of their supporters! 4/5 Students Support Science Research Researchers from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) this week have been interviewing some of Burgundy's 4/5 students in an effort to better understand how upper-elementary-aged children understand the concept of energy. Several years ago, these researchers interviewed Burgundy Middle School students. They were so impressed by our students' ability to articulate their ideas that they immediately thought to return to Burgundy upon embarking on this research. The results of the interviews will not only provide insight into our own students' understanding about energy, they will also provide Burgundy with a first-hand look at current research in science education. |
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Martin Luther King Day of Service: January 18
Because Martin Luther King, Jr. Day falls on the same day as inauguration day in 2013, Burgundy will host its annual Martin Luther King Day of Service during the school day on Friday, January 18. Burgundy's Martin Luther King Day of Service offers an opportunity for students at all grade levels to participate in meaningful community service activities that benefit a variety of non-profit organizations, most of which are local. Prior to the Day of Service, we will ask each family to fill one reusable shopping bag, which will be provided courtesy of parents Tara and Jerry Casagrande and distributed in January, with non-perishable food items to donate to ALIVE! On January 18, students will gather for an assembly in the Gym at 8:40 a.m. before working with their buddy classes for one hour to fulfill a service project and honor Dr. King's legacy. All parents are welcome to attend the assembly, and there will be varying opportunities to support the service projects. Activities will vary by grade level, and you will hear more about your child(ren)'s activities in the New Year. Look for more information from your classroom's community service coordinator in January, and contact Charlene Pritzker (charlenep@burgundyfarm.org or 703.960.3431 x513) with any immediate questions.
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Faculty Spotlight
Barbie Holland Gives Birth to Twin Boys
Kindergarten Polar Bears teacher Barbie Holland delivered twin boys Blake and Bryce on Thursday, December 6. Both sons and mother arrived home on Sunday, and all are doing well. Congratulations, Barbie!
Peter Nippard Completes Master's Degree Program
2/3 Viceroys teacher Peter Nippard completed his master's degree in social foundations of education at the University of Virginia last week. He graduated summa cum laude. Congratulations, Peter!
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Parting Pictures
 | | Lower School students, wearing hand-made elf hats, attend Wednesday's All School Meeting with their Buddy Classes. |
 | | Math Woman (Math Resource teacher Tracy Camp-Johnston) helps the 2/3 Buckeyes through an Everyday Math exercise. |
 | | Sixth-graders enjoy learning and practicing the art of improvisation during Drama class. |
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